Six races in six weeks:
- Rugged Maniac 5K
Greensboro, NC, April 9, 2011 - More | Fitness Women’s Half Marathon
New York City, April 3, 2011 - National Half Marathon
Washington, DC, March 26, 2011 - The Half of Quincy
Quincy, MA, March 20, 2011 - Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5K
Somerville, MA, March 13, 2011 - Black Cat 10 Miler
Salem, MA, March 6, 2011
One week in Las Vegas:
It’s time to get serious about my training.
The next race on my schedule is the Run to Remember at the end of May, which means I have just 5 weeks to step-it-up. My only goal for this race is to PR. Anything faster than my time at the National Half Marathon will make me happy.
Even though I’ve run 20 races from 5K to marathon with all sorts of distances mixed in, I still consider myself a beginner runner. Of course, I know a thing or two about running, but I read running blogs and love to learn āĖtricks of the trade’ from more experienced runners. Just a couple of weeks ago, a few of my runner buddies told me about Smart Coach, which I am now obsessed with. It’s the BEST training program ever. I plan to use it for all of my races in the future.
Check this thing out! You can totally personalize your program to meet your running goals. Look at all of the options!
Here’s what Smart Coach turned out for me:
This training program looks pretty good to me, so I hope to stick to it in preparation for the Run to Remember. Let’s hope it helps me get faster!
How do you come up with training plans for yourself? Do you use online tools? Create them yourself?
Snack
Mid-morning, I took a break from my work to eat a quick snack: red grapes + a blueberry muffin.
Lunch
A few hours later, I took another break to eat lunch on the sun porch with Murphy. On my plate: Sandwich Thin with veggie hummus, arugula salad with tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and flax oil, strawberries, and Swiss and cheddar cheese cubes.
I love tasting plates like thisāā I find that the flavors, colors, and textures are very satisfying, mentally and physically.
I’m off to the gym to tackle my first training workout.
See ya!
83 Comments
I’m totally trying Smart Coach!! That is awesome!!
Quite the schedule! Good luck with training and I hope smartcoach works well, it’s been a great tool for me!
I love Smart Coach! Although I tend to come up with my own training plans, I’ve definitely put in all my info to see what it would churn out for me. I think it’s such a great tool, just like a lot of the other areas on RunnersWorld.com. Congrats on so many races – even though you think you’re a beginner, I’d say you’re a race day pro!
Tasting plates are the best. You feel like you’re eating more than you usually are. Those strawberries look great, too!! Wish the ones in my supermarket looked like that!
Wow that smart coach thing looks like an awesome tool, thanks for sharing it!
Tasting plates are the best lunches.. I love being able to satisfy my multiple cravings.
Awesome! Thanks for that link. I’ll have to check out Smart Coach for my marathon training.
Thank you for that link!!! I definitely will look into that for race training. What a cool tool. š
That is a great tool — I like that it gives you a more detailed look at your week as well, instead of just calling it “easy run, tempo run, etc” — I need more explanation than that!
Looks like an awesome plan! and the best part…you have training buddies ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, who are gearing up just like you!
so awesome knowing our community is so big!
I’ve always used Hal Higdon’s training plans. For some reason, they really work for me. But this Runner’s World plan looks pretty effective. I think I’m going to give it a try for my next race!
I love smart coach too! Such a great tool š P.s. tasting plates are the bombdotcom–soooo satisfying!!
Smart Coach looks wonderful! Your 6 races in 6 weeks in impressive physically and mentally!
Thank you so much for sharing Smart Coach, Tina! This is one of the best training plan sites I’ve seen…the plan it came up with actually makes sense!
Cool, I’m definitely going to start using Smart Coach! Thanks for sharing!
Too bad that tool doesn’t add strength training. That’s a really important part of training. Will you be adding that in?
All my training plans have to include strength training since it’s so crucial to prevent injuries.
@Paula @ Eat: Watch: Run: Well, it does. You can just add it in where it says XT. I’m a Body Pump fanatic, so I will be doing plenty of it!
Wow! You are a racing machine š
I love RW’s Smart Coach! I use it all the time when designing my training plans!
What a great training tool! I plan on using it! š
what an awesome training tool!! I love how customized it is. Will definitely be trying this
I have used Smartcoach for all my races, and I think it’s a great plan. I feel very prepared for my 1/2 marathon coming up next weekend!
Oh my gosh! Thanks for posting! I was just looking for a new training plan! I previously used one I found in Runners’ World so I know I’ll like this!
Thanks!
I love Boston’s Run to Remember, it is probably my favorite half I have done.
Smart coach is the bomb, good luck with your training!
You’re a racing machine!
Thanks for the link. It looks like a great site!
This is awesome thank you! Half marathon season is officially over in Florida so I’ve been excited to spend the summer working on my speed for 5k’s and 10k’s. I can’t wait to use this!
Wow, thanks for sharing! This is awesome!
that site seems pretty cool!
I am definitely inspired to try my hand, or should I say feet, at some races.
What an awesome program! That’s so useful, especially in a time crunch. Great lunch too… love the strawberries!
So impressed with all your races. Lunch looks delish. Can’t wait to check out smartcoach!
That does look like a nice, satisfying lunch! For my marathon, I followed a pre-made online plan on the marathon website. For the half I’m doing this weekend, I made up my own plan.
hey i am running the run to remember too!!!! i am excited to read your book as well:)
Tis the season, right? Also I want one of those muffins…it looks dreamy!
That’s amazing! I’m scooting on over there right now to check it out!
Those strawberries look great!
I think programs on-line or from books are a great starting point but those are based on rules and algorithms that are in no way personalized to you. Plus there are so many training programs out there geared towards getting you to the finish line, not necessarily getting you there quickly or even safely. So I’ve always tweaked programs to my liking, usually adding more long runs or more mileage in general. I know what works for me so while it’s nice to see the “bones” of these programs, my training and ultimately my race-day performance is on me.
I love that SmartCoach app! That is so nice!
I just signed up for Smart Coach & I already love it!
Looks like a good training tool. I’m contemplating doing a half marathon soon, so I would definitely need something like this… when I did a 10K, I didn’t really have a training plan, I just ran a few times a week for a month or two before the race, but I know for a half marathon, I’ll need a more structured training program.
Wow look at you with all those races…fun!!! I dont use any online tools, I am not that sophisticated in my running..I just….run. And dont worry about it. When I used to race, I was still a “wing it” runner. As in, I had no plans. Which in most of my life, it’s very planned, just not with my running!
Smart coach sounds like an amazing program! I can’t believe all the features! I’m heading over to their website to give it a try right now. Good luck with your training!
Ooh great link! I’ve just started getting into running and finished my first 5K a few months ago. This seems like a great guide. Now to pick my next race…
I have never heard of Smart Coach, I am going to check it out for sure. It looks like a great tool! Thanks for sharing š
Love, love, love SmartCoach! Everything’s laid out nice & simple, and it’s free. I’m addicted to training plans, too.
And congrats on the book sightings! How exciting!
I did National Half (I was too tired to make it to the meet-up) but I’m also going to do the Run to Remember! Since National I’ve been really trying to work on speed, this will be my second half and I really want to PR (like take 5mins off my National time! BIG GOAL!!!) I’ve been using a training plan from Training Peaks which I used a similar one to prep for National, but this one is more ‘intermediate’ less beginner, so it’s got more speed work.
Hopefully there can be another meet up at the Run to Remember!
WOW! You have a busy running schedule. I love runner’s world’s training plans
I wanted to tell ya congratulations on the book being on the shelves!! š I’ll definitely check it out.
PERFECT timing!! I’m just now (re)starting my marathon training after coming out of injury and needed some help with a schedule. So glad I ran into this!
You are a machine!
That is an awesome looking app – and Woot! they have it for the Droid.
Downloading now!! š